Chester City - Bathing through the years Traditional Cache
Littleowl1: [:(] - with a heavy heart this cache is archived as it goes missing too often - happy caching all and thanks for visiting
Chester City - Bathing through the years
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The cache is situated outside Chester City’s old Public Baths which are to be found on the north side of Union Street at its junction with Bath Street. You are looking for a magnetic - container with a log book but no pencil. The area is a very popular drop off and short stay parking area so stealth will be required to retrieve and replace the cache unseen.
The hunt will bring you to one of the many spectacular red brick buildings in Chester. This Grade II designated building was originally built between 1898 and 1901 for Chester City Council and housed the public baths. It was designed by the local architect John Douglas on whose land they were constructed. It was an unusual commission for Douglas, as most of his previous designs had been for churches and houses. see attached image of Chester’s Union Street Public Baths today.
There was however prior to (and during) their construction other public baths available in Chester. In 1883 a strange object was to be found on The River Dee at the start of the Groves, just along from The Bridgegate. see attached image of Chester’s Floating Baths
Known as The Floating Bath it had changing rooms and an awning on top. It had a deep and shallow end and filled with river water which flowed through holes at each end. Sadly both mud and silt from the River Dee also flowed through the holes, to such an extent that the holes had to be widened (within a few years) to speed up the flow; with a great deal of success. Prior to its eventual closure, during a particularly high tide the baths broke from their moorings and ended atop of the weir. Retrieved from certain disaster it was repaired and replace in its original position. With the eventual completion of the city baths it was eventually sold for scrap – there is no trace of it today.
In the 1970s the city council built the Northgate Arena, a leisure complex which included a swimming pool, and they stated that they would not be able to afford to run both this and the old baths. see attached Chester’s Northgate Arena – leisure complex.
The City of Chester Swimming Club of the time was of the opinion that the new baths would not be suitable for competitive swimming or for water polo. To this end the Chester Swimming Association was formed and they took over the management of the Union Street baths in April 1977. They have made many improvements to the building, including the installation of gas central heating and a new water filtration system, the addition of a kitchen, cafeteria and gymnasium, also strengthening of the structure. The old Victorian slipper bath was replaced by a clubroom and bar. Internally there are two swimming baths. The larger, the Atlantic, 25 yards (23 m) long, is deep enough for diving, and is surrounded by galleries. The other bath, the Pacific, is 20 yards (18 m) long. A visit to the baths today will see that it remains a going concern. Why not compare with the Northgate arena, see which one you prefer.
There is no need to enter or climb any structure associated with the baths to retrieve this cache - happy hunting.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qbja cvcr.....ohg juvpu bar?
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures